Bergen City (pop., 2000 est.: municipality, 229,496), southwestern Norway.
It is Norway's second largest city and most important port. Founded in 1070
by King Olaf III, it was Norway's capital in the 12th–13th centuries. In the 14th
century, German Hanseatic League merchants acquired control over its trade;
their influence in a weakened Norway lasted into the 16th century. Repeatedly
destroyed by fire (most notably in 1702 and 1916), Bergen has been resurrected
each time. Its economy is based largely on fishing and shipbuilding. It was the
birthplace of Edvard Grieg and the violinist Ole Bull.

Vestlandshallen is an indoor arena in Bergen, Norway. It has a capacity of 8,000
people. It usually hosts various indoor sporting events as well as music concerts.

Karlstad city (1990 pop. 52,930), capital of Värmland co., S Sweden, on Lake Vänern.
It has ironworks and machine shops and other industries that manufacture forest
products and heavy machinery. Known as Thingvalla (or Tingvalla) in the Middle Ages,
it was chartered by Charles IX as Karlstad in 1584. A fire in 1865 destroyed much of
the city. The treaty that severed the union of Norway and Sweden was negotiated and
signed there in 1905.